Thirteen years later, John Andretti back in Indy 500
Thirteen-year layoff? That's no problem for John Andretti, who all but locked up his spot in the Indy 500, writes John Schwarb
INDIANAPOLIS -- John Andretti completed his Indianapolis 500 qualifying run -- four consistent, respectable laps on the 2.5-mile oval -- then climbed out of the cockpit to a warm ovation. Haven't heard that one before, huh?
In recent years, the nephew of 1969 Indianapolis 500 champion Mario Andretti and cousin to Andretti Green Racing's Michael and Marco Andretti had only seen the Brickyard during the Brickyard 400. He was a stock-car veteran, unsure when -- if ever -- he would return to Indianapolis during the month of May.
With a third car from Panther Racing, and a qualifying effort of 221.756 mph (good for 24th on the grid), the seven-time Indy starter is back for the first time since 1994.
"It's sort of like getting to the speedway your first time, it's been so long ago now," said Andretti, whose layoff between 500s is the third longest in history. "The feeling is really good."
A lot has changed in those 13 years between Indy 500 starts. In 1994, Al Unser Jr. won the race from the pole in a Penske-Mercedes, the Mercedes engine being one of five different powerplants in the race (now all cars run on Hondas). Scott Sharp was a rookie and Mario Andretti raced for the final time.
And the infamous open-wheel split was still two years away.
In 1994, John Andretti became the first driver to complete the Memorial Day weekend "double," running at Indy and then the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, N.C. It was his first full year in then-Winston Cup, and he would run that series full time for a decade, a stable living after a nomadic racing career that included everything from sprints to sports cars to open-wheel cars and even Top Fuel dragsters.
"Most people, they set a career path and they stick to it. My path, I've gone where the wind blows. I'm just glad the wind got strong enough to blow me back to Indianapolis," said the 44-year-old.
John Barnes, no stranger to the Andretti family, was happy to catch him. Barnes worked with Mario in 1973, was a team manager for Jeff in 1993 and an owner in 2001 with Panther when it prepared a car for Michael.
Most people, they set a career path and they stick to it. My path, I've gone where the wind blows. I'm just glad the wind got strong enough to blow me back to Indianapolis.
John Andretti
"This completes the story for me," Barnes said.
Andretti called Barnes in March inquiring about a possible one-off ride for Indy, and it came together this week alongside Panther's primary cars driven by Vitor Meira and Kosuke Matsuura. Meira shook down the No. 33 Dallara-Honda Wednesday, and Andretti put it in the race three days later.
"Race-trim runs this week would have been awesome, getting in traffic would be good, because I have no idea what they feel like in traffic," said Andretti, who won twice in 341 Winston/Nextel Cup starts. "But you know what, when the race starts anything can happen anyway. I've figured that out before here at the speedway, you just kind of work your way into where you're at anyway. Most of my learning's going to come during the 500, and that's OK because I think I can learn pretty quickly."
Unser Jr., one link between Andretti's Indy 500 past and present, landed just behind on the grid in 25th. Come race day, he said Andretti shouldn't have much to worry about.
"I think he's going to enjoy it. The formula of the cars that we're running, they do handle better in traffic than the cars that he ran in the early '90s. You can use a lot of throttle and all that kind of stuff," Unser Jr. said. "For John, he's going to have a good time out there and enjoy himself."
John Schwarb is a freelance journalist covering motorsports and a contributor to ESPN.com. He can be reached at johnschwarb@yahoo.com.
